[StarMan]

Oooooff old thread, but I'm surprised no one mentioned laser. I use to own radar detector years ago (back when Passport 8500 was King and V1) but sold it. I noticed more and more cops were using laser in my area. And most other times, if they use radar, they use short range instant on (by the time radar alerts you, cop already has your speed).

Luckily I haven't ever had a speeding ticket,m, now a days I just drive the posted limit.

[mattc1176]

Ironically the only ticket I've ever received was for having a radar detector in Virginia where they are illegal.

[RoundelM3]

I used to live in TX where Interstate and Toll-Road speed limits were anywhere from 75-85 MPH. Even some rural roads (2-lane) had 70 MPH limits. Here in NC, the highest limit I've seen so far is 70 on Interstates (we don't have Toll Roads here - at least, not in the Coastal areas). I'm an ex-LEO, and I find the temptation to drive well over the limit to be very low due the impracticality of doing so on the roads around here (other than the one short stretch of Interstate). Too many blind driveways/curves where you might find a tractor on the road or someone texting or other traffic hazard. If you get ticketed for 75 or over, you lose your license, just like a DUI. It just isn't worth it, and besides, 60-70 MPH limits suits most of the roadways here.

Last summer, I drove up to New England, and on the way I was unfortunate enough to have to drive on the New Jersey Turnpike, where the posted limit is 65 and the average speed was 80 or more. People in claptrap junkers were flying past, weaving in and out of lanes, which is dangerous even for decent vehicles. No troopers in sight, which I found pretty strange, considering it'd be like shooting fish in a barrel. I keep wondering if they monitor the time stamps between toll booths and calculate average speed, but they apparently don't take advantage of that method of enforcement.

Anyway, it all depends on where you live and the road conditions, including traffic and how closely they monitor the limits. Strangest thing is that here in NC, most of the revenue from traffic tickets go to the State and not the local or county agencies, so there's little incentive to write tickets for "revenue" purposes. But they don't hesitate to nab violators, particularly red light/stop sign runners and speeders. No tickets for me in quite a while, although my TX law enforcement license may not do much for me here.

[BMWZ4]

I use beltronics magnum sti. 100% undetectable and picks up radar, pop etc nicely.

[pikcachu]

You can always use a jammer , they are legal in some places

[wjjkoevoets]

One speeding ticket with the M235i so far.

I was driving to a friend who lives in Belgium. I visit him nearly every week, so that day was nothing special.

Just before crossing the Belgian border the speed limit goes from 80km/h to 50km/h for about 200 meters and than back up to 70 km/h once you cross the border. For the past 2 years I always put my cruise control from 86 km/h to 74 km/h. It's not like there's anything special going on in those 200 meters. No schools, no pedestrian crossings and definitely no border control :P

As fortune would have it, the Belgian police decided it would be a good idea to setup a traffic camera right in the 50 km/h zone :P I received a "pre-speed ticket notification" by mail informing me that I got busted.

Ticket is likely going to cost me somewhere between €90-€100, so it's not too bad. And since the Belgian police does a very poor job of collecting these fines, I won't be seeing the actual fine I have to pay anywhere between now and the next three years. Hooray for the Belgian police :P

[qnet]

I haven't had a ticket in my M235i. I have a 9500Ci radar detector and always pay attention to it when it goes off. I like it because it's integrated and you'd have to be driving my car to even notice it. It also has laser shifters. I don't get hit with laser a lot, but the rear shifters have went off a few times and I still slow down, even though it supposed to be jamming it

It's an expensive radar detector but I think it's worth it. I'm not a big speeder, and average around 70-80Mph on the highway. Most people average this on the highway in my city. The speed limits on the highways in my city are 55 to 70 Mph depending on where you are. The problem is the way people drive here. If you want to pass them, they seem to speed up, but once you're past they slow down to normal speed. It a weird thing, I guess it's the instinct in some people, they don't want to get passed by.

When I had my Evo X (and no radar detector at the time) I got a ticket the day after I bought the car. I had a situation where I was trying to pass someone to get to my exit. I ended up punching it to get past them, and got clocked doing 85Mph in a 55Mph speed limit. The cop was real cool. He seemed impressed with the Evo and was asking about it. He reduced my ticket to 70 in a 55 and it was only $120 vs. $1500 (Called super speeder in my city). He told me he knows how it is to have a new car, but take it easy.

That was the last ticket I got, over two years ago. I also had the 9500ci in my Evo, and I know one time in particular it saved me on a road trip. I was driving at a decent speed and this Mercedes came up on my tail. My radar detector went off and I got out of his/her way and slowed down. A few miles down the road a state trooper had that driver pulled over.

[Tpeterson]

Originally Posted by SSumair

I have an Escort 9500xi also but people need to understand than most of the time a radar detector helps but does not completely eliminate a ticket.. For instance, cops in NYC are allowed to "visually estimate" your speed then back it up with their supposed radar/laser confirmation.. However, most of time, they just sit by side of the highway, observer a car traveling, visually estimate it's speed, then pull it over, then lie in court about confirming their estimate with a radar reading.. The judges just consider their word in gold and find you guilty, regardless of the merits of your claim. Essentially, this renders a radar detector, regardless of its ability, utterly useless..

Cops lie. Knock me over with a feather. Enthusiast profiling!

[Poochie]

Yes, I know that it's kind of hard to believe in this perfect world we live in but a police officer, especially HWY patrol, will say WHATEVER they have to, in order to secure a conviction. Not to start a whole other discussion, every ticket, including the ones where I !knew! the truth would completely vindicate my summons, witness, with a poker face, the PO flat out lying about the circumstances in court.. Anyone who believe that a PO is above lying under oath --watches way too many police procedural tv shows..

[BarryJI]

I have had two speeding tickets in the last twelve months so I need to be careful. The last was on the I-5 north; I'd been tooling along at about 110 mph (only 4200 rpm in this car, feels like 60 mph in any other car) when I slowed for the off ramp and that's when the CHP clocked me at 95 mph so I caught a break, as I believe 100+ will get the car impounded. The young patrolman seemed very by-the-book but even though he said he had to report my tint on top of the speeding ticket, it appears he didn't, for which I am grateful. This ticket didn't ding my insurance either. Even when they are pleasant and professional -- as most of them are -- it's still an unpleasant experience and stressful because you really don't want to be dealing with one of the minority of cops who want to give you as much grief as possible.

As for radar detectors, I've been tempted but I think it would over-sensitize me to the possible consequences of driving over the speed limit and would take the joy out of it! Plus, I do not want to be faced with an officer who pulls me over, spots it and decides to make an example of me.

[Col-Bimmer]

I would say, I have been stopped twice and have had three close calls. On the first stop (two weeks after getting the car), the police officer walked over, took my lic, reg, and ins. After checking to make sure I had not outstanding warrants, he returned and told me "nice car" and "keep an eye on your speed" and wished me a good day. phew...

Second time, officer told me I was doing 10 over the limit and told me to slow down. Again a warning.

On three other events, the officer could have stopped me or a driver next to me (dealer's choice). On each occasion he stopped the other driver.

[mcompact]

When I was judge in traffic court I noticed that a couple of officers would write: "Radar detector in use!!!" on their citations. I told them that when I saw those comments I'd assume the driver wasn't speeding, because when my Valentine One went off I ALWAYS slowed down...

[Sportstick]

Originally Posted by mcompact

When I was judge in traffic court I noticed that a couple of officers would write: "Radar detector in use!!!" on their citations. I told them that when I saw those comments I'd assume the driver wasn't speeding, because when my Valentine One went off I ALWAYS slowed down...

Hmmm....there's still an opening on the Supreme Court. Willing to move to D.C.?

[Zooks527]

Originally Posted by SSumair

I have an Escort 9500ix also but people need to understand than most of the time a radar detector helps but does not completely eliminate a ticket.. For instance, cops in NYC are allowed to "visually estimate" your speed then back it up with their supposed radar/laser confirmation.. However, most of time, they just sit by side of the highway, observer a car traveling, visually estimate it's speed, then pull it over, then lie in court about confirming their estimate with a radar reading.. The judges just consider their word in gold and find you guilty, regardless of the merits of your claim. Essentially, this renders a radar detector, regardless of its ability, utterly useless..

Which is why a dashcam with a GPS speed display is invaluable.

Unless you're going as fast or faster than the officer says you are. Not much use at all then.

[pikcachu]

Originally Posted by SSumair

Yes, as funny as that sounds, I think a dash cam with a GPS stamp is a better defense than; "I wasn't speeding, my radar detector would of warn me..." At lease you have proof that you wasn't speeding or at lease create reasonable doubt of the cop's polish testimony..

yes but your speedometer is not certified so not sure how that would hold in court....
Usually cops won't stop you just for the sake of it... unless they are short on revenue for that month

It's funny also...in other countries you tip them 10% of the fine and you are free to go.... here you are free to go to jail

[bimmerfile]

Originally Posted by wjjkoevoets

.................................................. .................................................. ..... And since the Belgian police does a very poor job of collecting these fines, I won't be seeing the actual fine I have to pay anywhere between now and the next three years. Hooray for the Belgian police :P

Yah, Given the difficulty they seem to have finding really bad guys living right under their noses, they'll never find you..

[uberspeed]

Originally Posted by ocN55

I got cited for no front plate last Wednesday. My first citation ever...
The sadder thing is that my dog took a bite out of the ticket lol

Anyone have some advice? I took a picture of the whole ticket the day I got it, is that any good? Should I expect something in the mail for this non-moving violation?

Most States let you search for violations by license plate number.

[BentZero]

No ticket yet, but came close. launched really hard from a stop light up to 60 or so in a 55. Decided to just have fun in a couple of gears. Cop was behind the car in the lane to my left and pulled up behind me. I guess when he saw that I didn't go any faster he switched lanes, looked over at me as he passed and went on his merry way.

[wjjkoevoets]

Originally Posted by bimmerfile

Yah, Given the difficulty they seem to have finding really bad guys living right under their noses, they'll never find you..

Yeah, pretty much haha.

[Viffermike]

Man. Lots of solid info in the responses here, from the ex-judge with the V One (kudos, sir) and the dashcam/GPS setup (which I would consider the new radar detector) to the reasons behind why we have relatively low speed limits in the U.S. -- as well as too-high ones in places (as the Texas-to-NC poster noted) and patently unsafe speed conditions because of a lack of enforcement on several levels (as another posted noted about the NJT).

Speeding -- or, more accurately, spirited driving -- is an art that no one piece of gear will make you a master at. IMHO, radar detectors are wasted money because they aren't reliable and do not work for what they're meant. Also, Waze can help but it is notoriously inaccurate, the interface and graphics are godawful, and using it makes most higher-risk drivers because, well, you're distracted by using your phone, dammit. Stop it!

You have to know the culture of where you are -- law enforcement priorities, prevailing traffic behavior, the local and state laws that govern citation revenues -- to know where, when, and how much to drive over the limit. And I'll add that you need to have a reason for going fast just in case you've pulled over. I've gotten out of a number of potential citations (two for "exhibition of speed" are noted in another active thread), including at least three for speeding, because I gave good reasons for my behavior to the cop who pulled me over -- good enough to where had he ticketed me and I brought the case to court, he would not have had an easy time of things. Cops can't see everything, particularly when they're fixated on you.